At 6:30 in the morning, Han Feng rolled over on the sofa, his neck throbbing slightly from his sleeping position. He sat up, rubbing the back of his neck, and noticed a blanket had been placed on him. He knew without a doubt that Liu Mengran had secretly covered him with it in the middle of the night.
A slight noise came from the kitchen. Han Feng tiptoed over and saw Liu Mengran preparing breakfast. The morning light shone through the gap in the curtains, casting a soft glow on her figure.
"Why are you up so early?" Han Feng wrapped his arms around her waist from behind.
Liu Mengran trembled slightly, then relaxed and leaned against him: "Thinking you had to catch an early flight..." She turned to look at Han Feng's reddened eyes, "You didn't sleep well on the sofa, did you?"
"It's definitely not as good as sleeping in your bed." Han Feng nuzzled against her neck, inhaling the faint scent of shampoo.
"Serves you right." Liu Mengran chuckled and nudged him with her elbow. "Who told you to... do that yesterday..."
Just as Han Feng was about to explain, Su Wanwan's door suddenly opened. The girl with messy hair squinted and made her way to the bathroom, muttering as she passed the kitchen, "So mushy this early in the morning...be mindful of your manners..."
Half an hour later, the three sat down at the table for breakfast. Han Feng finished his porridge in a few gulps, wiped his mouth, and stood up: "I have to go."
"Wait." Su Wanwan suddenly ran upstairs and came down a moment later with a file folder. "These contain the villa's keys and property certificate. I contacted a cleaning company last night, and they'll be here soon to give the villa a thorough cleaning."
Han Feng didn't take it, but couldn't help ruffling her hair: "Keep it for now, we can deal with it when they arrive. Thank you, Wanwan."
"Don't rub my head!" Su Wanwan slapped his hand away, but her ears turned red.
Han Feng walked to the door, then turned back: "Oh, right, my room today..."
"Okay!" the two girls said in unison, "We'll find someone to do the renovations!"
Watching them wave goodbye from the doorway, Han Feng felt a surge of warmth in his chest. This kind of everyday life was worth protecting with his life.
Jiang City, 11:00 AM.
Han Feng had returned to Jiang City. He was standing at the entrance of his family's supermarket, looking through the glass window at his mother stocking shelves and his father chatting with regular customers at the checkout. The sight of his parents made his throat tighten. Since his rebirth, he had been trying to make up for the regrets of his previous life, but he hadn't shown his parents the same care. Now, thinking about it, Han Feng wanted to slap himself.
The wind chimes tinkled as the door opened. Han's mother looked up, and the merchandise in her hands fell to the floor with a thud.
"Xiao Feng, you're back?"
Ten minutes later, Han's parents handed over their work to the shop assistant, and the two elders took Han Feng back home.
"You didn't even tell us what time you'd be home. Your dad and I weren't prepared at all." As soon as she entered the house, Han's mother rushed to the kitchen. "Are you hungry? Mom will make you some food now."
Han's father patted his son on the shoulder: "Have you been working yourself to the bone lately? You look thinner."
"It's alright..." Han Feng sat down on the familiar sofa, his fingertips tracing the dents on the armrest from his childhood. This small living room, which held countless memories, seemed shabby compared to his villa in Kyoto, yet it brought tears to his eyes.
Han's mother brought out a steaming bowl of egg noodles, insisting on watching Han Feng finish it before she would stop. The noodles were handmade, and the broth had been simmering with pork bones all night. Clearly, even if her son suddenly returned, Han's mother could conjure up a feast in an instant—a special ability of Chinese mothers.
"Eat slowly..." Han's mother watched Han Feng's every move, then suddenly changed the subject, "How are Mengran and Wanwan doing lately?"
"Cough!" Han Feng choked on his noodles and quickly grabbed a tissue to wipe his mouth. "It's...it's alright..."
Han's mother narrowed her eyes: "Tell me the truth, have you gotten together with one of them? I noticed it last time you came to Kyoto; both girls were looking at you strangely."
Han Feng's ears burned instantly. He looked to his father for help, and his father coughed at the opportune moment: "The child just got back, let him talk about the important matter first. Xiao Feng, what did you say you wanted to discuss on the phone?"
Han Feng glanced gratefully at his father, put down his chopsticks, and his expression gradually became serious: "Dad, Mom, I came back this time to take you to live in Kyoto."
These words were like a mute button being pressed. Han's mother's smile froze on her face, and Han's father's teacup hung suspended in mid-air.
"Why suddenly..." Han's father was the first to find his voice.
“I have a house there, and you’ve seen the surroundings before,” Han Feng said carefully, choosing his words. “Besides… some of our business competitors have been acting rather unethically lately, and I’m not comfortable leaving you in Jiang City.”
He didn't dare reveal the real dangers, such as Mu Xiaoxiao still lurking in the shadows, and those mysterious family forces—he had already stepped into their clutches, and he feared his parents would be implicated. In his parents' eyes, "business competition" was already a black-and-white world of gunfire and bloodshed.
Han's mother and father exchanged a glance. Years of marital understanding allowed them to communicate without words. Finally, Han's father slowly put down his teacup: "Let us think about it. Jiang City is our home..."
"Dad!" Han Feng leaned forward anxiously. "The supermarket can be handed over to the store manager, or it can be transferred directly. I'll arrange everything in Kyoto; you don't need to worry about anything."
Han's mother suddenly reached out and touched Han Feng's face: "Son, tell me honestly... has something happened?"
Han Feng's Adam's apple bobbed. He desperately wanted to tell her everything—the missions, the dangers, the days and nights spent teetering on the edge of life and death. But in the end, he simply held his mother's hand: "I just wanted to fulfill my filial duty. You've worked hard your whole lives; it's time to enjoy your retirement."
Silence fell over the living room once more. The old locust tree outside the window rustled in the wind, as if witnessing another important moment for this family.
Han's father suddenly stood up and walked towards the bedroom: "Xiaofeng, come here for a moment. I have something to show you."
Han Feng followed his father into the bedroom and watched as his father pulled a long-forgotten tin box from under the bed. The moment his father entered the password and opened the box, Han Feng's pupils contracted sharply.
Inside the box were neatly arranged a discharge certificate, three military medals, and a yellowed group photo: the young Han father, dressed in military uniform, stood among a group of soldiers, and behind them, on the building, were the two large characters "Longyuan"!
"Dad...you?" Han Feng's voice choked in his throat.
Han's father gently stroked his military medals: "Some things aren't your burden alone." He looked up, his eyes flashing with a sharpness Han Feng had never seen before. "Now, tell me the truth. What exactly happened?"
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